Package trays



M. T. MOORE PACKAGE TRAYS July 2, 1957 Filed Nov. 20, 1953 v INVENTOR Mar/e Ha Tanner Moore ATTORNEY terial.

PACKAGE TRAYS Marietta Tanner Moore, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Di-Cel Corporation, Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Texas Application November 20, 1953, Serial No. 393,285

6 Claims. (Cl. 229 -42) This invention relates to a package tray and more particularly to a tray having a plurality of compartments for receiving articles which must be held separately from one another.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved package tray made of a one piece flat blank of material which is cut in such a manner that portions may be bent to form vertical partitions.

Another object is to provide a package tray, of the type described, wherein transverse and longitudinal vertical partitions are provided which are interlocked to afford maximum rigidity and strength to the package tray.

Still another object is to provide a package tray of the type described, wherein the partitions and bottom of the tray require no pasting, gluing, stapling or adhesion to one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package tray formed of a single blank which may be stored and transported as a one piece flat sheet of material and which can be easily and quickly erected into the tray by bending the vertical partitions upwardly into interlocking positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a package tray which is capable of being repeatedly collapsed for storage and erected again for repeated used.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the single piece blank, which can be erected to form a package tray, showing certain of the vertical partitions erected and interlocked, and others partially erected;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in Figure 1 with the partitions ready for folding into erected positions;

Figure 3 is a side view of a package tray showing all the vertical partitions in erected positions;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryyiew showing the manner in which transverse and longitudinal .parti- .tions are interlocked; and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the package tray shown in Figures 1 to 4.

In the drawings, the numeral lll indicates .a single piece of rectangular fiatblank of cardboard or other sheet ma- This blank is slitted along substantially U-shaped lines 11 to form transverse tabs or partitions 12 which may be bent along thetransverse fold lines-13 into erect positions in which they extend perpendicularly from the main portion 14 of the blank which'then forms the bottom of a tray. The U-shaped slit lines have transverse portions 15 and parallel spaced longitudinal legportions 16.

'The blank is also slitted along lines 17, which are likewise substantially U-shaped, to form longitudinal tabs dinal fold lines 19 into erect positions in which they States Patent 0 longitudinal tabs in that direction. engage the curved edge 30, formed by the notches 31 in than.

longitudinal partitions.

extend perpendicularly from the main portion 14 of the blank.

The slit lines 17 have a longitudinal main portion 20, parallel spaced transverse leg portions 21 and 22, and a substantially longitudinal portion 23 which is a continuation of the leg portion 22 and of the fold line 19.

Transverse slits 24 extend along the fold lines 13 between the main portions 20 of the slits 17 and a circular opening 25 in the longitudinal partition, and these transverse slits are adapted to receive the narrow curved portions 26 of the transverse partitions 1 2.

It will be seen that the transverse partitions, when erect, have apertures 27 through which the longitudinal partitions extend, the slits 24 and openings 25 permitting the longitudinal partitions 18 to be of the same height as the transverse partitions 12 since the narrow portions 26 of the transverse partitions are engaged in said transverse slits and openings.

The blank 10 may be provided with the various slits and the openings by a single die-cutting operation which may also score the fold lines 13 and 19 to facilitate the bending or folding of the partitions. The slitted blanks may then be stored in the fiat condition illustrated in Figure 2 until needed for use.

When it is desired to use one of the trays, the transverse partitions are bent upwardly along the lines 13 from the main portion or bottom 14 until they are vertical to the bottom, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The longitudinal partitions are then bent along the fold lines .19 upwardly from the main portion or bottom 14 of the blank until they are also vertical to the bottom.

During the latter portions of such upward bending movement of the longitudinal partitions, the narrow curved portions 26 of the transverse partitions pass through the slits 24 and enter the openings 25, the tab portions 28 of the longitudinal partitions adjacent the slits 24 bending outwardly to permit such passage of the curved narrow portions 26 of the transverse partitions into the openings 25. These tab portions snap back into their original positions when the portions 26 are in the apertures. When the longitudinal partitions are in vertical positions, their sides abut the vertical edges 29 of the transverse tabs, which thus limit movement of .the The tab portions 28 the upper edges of the transverse partitions, to limit movement of the longitudinal tabs in the opposite direc- Thus, the longitudinal partitions are restrained or locked in upright or vertical position to the transverse partitions.

Similarly, the transverse partitions are held in upright or vertical position, since the curved portions 26 of the transverse tabs extend through the openings 25 in the The transverse partitions, therefore, cannot move from their vertical positions until the longitudinal tabs are not in their erect or vertical position. It will thus be seen that each adjacent or asso- .ciated pair of longitudinal and transverse partitions are interlocked when in erect or vertical positions.

The longitudinal and transverse partitions when in vertical positionsact as separators or dividers which divide .the package .trayinto aplurality of compartments. In

each of the compartments, an article, or a stack of articles, may be disposed and held by the partitions against movement toward articles in the other compartment. If desired, the package tray may be provided with longitudinalrupright marginal flanges 32, Figure 5, along each side, or similar upright end flanges, or both, which serve to add rigidity to the tray, and which also may serve to prevent articles in the compartment from sliding off the edges of the bottom.

The described package tray may be inserted in a cellophane or like wrapper or bag, or in a carton box to hold articles against movement in the container, or the package tray may be used as a container, and such tray and its contents may be covered by a transparent cover so that the articles held by the tray may be easily visible.

The apertures 33 in the bottom 14 of the package tray left when the partitions are bent to vertical positions are of small size as compared to the articles who held by the trays so that the articles'cannot fall through the apertures.

It will be seen that a new and improved package tray has been illustrated and described which includes a single piece flat blank slitted along preselected lines so that partitions 12 and 18 may be bent upward from the blank to divide the tray into compartments. It will also be seen that each associated pair of transverse-and longitudinal partitions extend perpendicularly to and past each other and are interlocked by means of the apertures 25 in one partition and the curved portion 26 of the other partition which extends through the aperture. Furthermore, upright marginal edge flanges may be provided to add rigidity to the tray. It will also be seen that the partitions may be folded back to original horizontal position, after the package tray has been used, for further storage or re-use. 1

Also, it will be noted the illustrated package tray is of simple, efficient, and inexpensive construction since the blank can be formed by a single die operation and -the partitions may be erected by simply bending them to vertical positions.

It will be understood that while in the illustrated embodiment of the invention a package tray has been shown and described having only a single row of pairs of partitions, package trays may be constructed having a plurality of parallel rows of such pairs of partitions. Also, if desired, additional slits 35 (Figure 1) may be formed in'the blank it) so that tabs will be formed which will project into the apertures 53 of the bottom. Such tabs -would serve to add bottom support area and to strengthen along parallel transverse lines to erect positions perpendicular to the bottom portion; having a plurality of longitudinally spaced separate longitudinal partitions integral with the bottom portion and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of said bottom portion, said longitudinal partitions being each independently foldable upwardly along a longitudinal line to erect positions perpendicular to the bottom portion and to one of said transverse partitions, each of said transverse partitions having an aperture, each of said longitudinal partitions extending through the aperture of a single adjacent transverse partition, each of said longitudinal partitions having an opening and a slit extending from an edge of the partition to the opening, each of said transverse partitions having a portion receivable in said opening of a single adjacent longitudinal partition through said slit, said transverse partitions being held against movement from erect positions by the engagement of said portions in said openings of said longitudinal partitions, said bottom portion providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partitions and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions.

2. A package tray including: a main bottom portion; spaced transverse partitions integral with the bottom portion and foldable upwardly along parallel transverse lines to erect positions perpendicular to the bottom portion;

4 and longitudinally spaced separate longitudinal partitions integral with the bottom portion and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of said bottom portion, said 1ongitudinal partitions being each independently foldable upwardly along a longitudinal line to erect positions perpendicular to the bottom portion and to said transverse partitions, a single one of said transverse partitions and a single one of said longitudinal partitions cooperating to form a separate pair, each of said transverse partitions having an aperture, each of said longitudinal partitions extending through the aperture of an adjacent transverse partition, each of said longitudinal partitions having an opening and a slit extending from an edge of the partition to the opening, each of said transverse partitions having a portion receivable in said opening of an ad jacent longitudinal partition through said slit, said transverse partitions being held against movement from erect positions by the engagement of said portions in said openings of said longitudinal partitions, each of said transverse partitions having notches, each of said longitudinal partitions having opposed tab portions having substantially abutting surfaces defining said slits, said tab portions being receivable in the notch'of adjacent transverse partitions, said longitudinal partitions being held against movement from erect position by the engagement of the substantially abutting surfaces of said tabs in said notches, said bottom portion providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partitions and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions.

3. A tray including: a flat bottom portion having first portions toldable inwardly to form a plurality of separate parallel spaced transverse partitions disposed perpendicularly to the bottom portion and having second portions foldable inwardly to form a plurality of separate longitudinally aligned spaced longitudinal partitions perpendicular to the bottom portion and to said transverse partitions, each of said longitudinal partitions extending through a single associated adjacent transverse partition; each of said longitudinal and transverse partitions being spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of said flat bottom portion; adjacent transverse and longitudinal partitions constituting a separate pair having cooperating means detachably interlocking the partitions in positions perpendicular to said bottom portion, each of said longitudinal partitions having an opening and a slit extending from an edge of the partition to the opening, each of said transverse partitions having a portion receivable in said opening of the single adjacent longitudinal partition of its pair through said slit, said transverse partitions being held against movement from erect positions by the engagement of said portion in said openings of said longitudinal partitions, said bottom portions providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partitions and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions.

4. A tray including: a fiat bottom portion having first portions foldable inwardly to form a plurality of separate parallel spaced transverse partitions disposed perpendicularly to the bottom portion and having second portions foldable inwardly to form a plurality of longitudinally aligned spaced longitudinal partitions perpendicular to the bottom portion and to said transverse partitions, each of said longitudinal partitions extending through a single associated adjacent transverse partition; each of said longitudinal and transverse partitions being spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of said flat bottom portion; adjacent transverse and longitudinal partitions constituting a pair and having cooperating means detachably interlocking the partitions in positions perpendicular to said bottom portion, each of said longitudinal partitions having an opening and a slit extending from an edge of the partition to the opening, each of said transverse partitions having a portion receivable in said opening of the single adjacent longitudinal partition of its pair through said slit, said transverse partitions being held against movement from erect positions by the engagement of said portions in said openings of said longitudinal partitions, each of said transverse partitions having notches, each of said longitudinal partitions having opposed tab portions defining said slits receivable in the notch of adjacent transverse partitions, said longitudinal partitions being held against movement from erect position by the engagement of said tabs in said notches, said bottom portion providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partitions and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions.

5. A tray blank comprising: a flat member having slits and fold lines defining a plurality of spaced parallel transversely extending substantially rectangular partition members and a plurality of spaced aligned substantially rectangular longitudinal partition members, the slits and,

fold lines defining said partition members being all spaced inwardly from the marginal edges of said fiat member; said fiat member providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partition members and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions each of said longitudinal partition members having a portion of the slits and fold lines defining its configuration disposed in the plane of the flat member within the confines of the slits and fold lines defining the transverse partition member and a portion disposed outside the slits and fold lines defining such transverse partition member, said longitudinal partition member having a portion of the slit defining its configuration disposed in alignment with the fold lines of the transverse partition and also having an opening communicating with said slit and positioned in alignment with said fold lines of said transverse partition member, each of said transverse partition members having the slit defining their outline provided with a curved V-notch forming configuration disposed in alignment with the fold line of the adjacent longitudinal partition member.

6. A tray blank comprising: a fiat member having slits and fold lines defining a plurality of spaced parallel transverse partition members and a plurality of spaced aligned longitudinal partition members, the fold lines of said partition members intersecting at a point intermediate the ends of the fold lines defining the transverse partition member; said flat member providing a supporting surface between adjacent transverse partition members and a marginal supporting surface surrounding all the partitions each of said longitudinal partition members being defined by slits disposed within the fold lines and slits defining the transverse partition member and having a portion of its slits and its fold line disposed outside the slits and the fold lines defining said transverse partition, said slits defining said longitudinal partition member merging into a common slit aligned with the fold lines of the transverse partition member and terminating in a substantially circular opening within the outline of said longitudinal partition member disposed in alignment with the fold lines of the transverse partition member; the s its defining each of said transverse partition members outlining a substantially V-shaped configuration disposed in alignment with the fold line of the longitudinal partition member; a single transverse partition member and the adjacent single longitudinal partition member constituting a pair of cooperating partitions members, each pair of said partition members being adapted to be bent along the said fold lines into a position normal to the plane of the fiat member, the slit and opening in each of said longitudinal partition members being adapted to receive a central portion of the adjacent transverse partition member of its cooperating pair and being adapted to engage in the notch formed in said transverse partition member to lock the partition members in such upright position when so erected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,782,915 Weidner Nov. 25, 1930 2,361,840 Hanton et al. Oct. 31, 1944 2,474,543 McLellan June 28, 1949 2,486,743 Hafiner Nov. 1, 1949 2,584,967 Watson et al. Feb. 5, 1952 2,587,706 Deline Mar. 4, 1952 2,596,205 Buttery May 13, 1952 2,604,983 Moore July 29, 1952 

